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(ModeL) W. H. HOUFF.

VELOCIPEDE.

No. 245,499. Patented Aug. 9,1881.

WITNESSES INV'EJV'TGR I l I I By kw flttorneys u i v v I l t I PETERS. PhOWLilhognphen Washingicll D C ITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM H. HOUF F, OF MILL BROOK DEPOT, VIRGINIA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE- HALF TO JOSEPH M. JORDAN, OF SAME PLACE.

VELOCIPEDE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 245,499, dated August 9, 1881.

Application filed May28, 1881. (ModeL) To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, WILLIAM H. HOUFF, of Mill Brook Depot, in the county of Augusta and State of Virginia, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Velocipedes; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, which will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the IQ same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification.

Figure l is a perspective view, and Fig. 2 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view.

Similar letters of reference indicate corresponding parts in both figures.

This invention relates to that class of threewheeled velocipedes or tricycles in which the motive power is furnished by a crank operated by the hands of the rider; and it consists in certain improvements in the construction of the same, which will be hereinafter fully described, and particularly pointed out in the claim.

I11 the drawings hereto annexed, A repre sents a flat forked or V-shaped frame, the prongs or sides of which are provided at their rear ends with boxes or bearings B for the main shaft or axle G, carrying the transport ing-wheels D. The front end of the frame or converging point of the side pieces is curved upward and rearward, as shown, to form a spring-bearing, E, for the vertical forked bearing F of the front guide-wheel, G. The sides 3 5 of the pivoted bearing-frame F are provided with brackets H, having adjustable foot-pieces I for guiding the machine.

The frame A supports a suitably-constructed box, J, in which bearings are provided for the shafts K L of a pair of gear-wheels, M N, en- 40 gaging each other, as shown. The shaft K of gear-wheel M is provided with a double crank, O, by which it may be conveniently operated. The gear-wheel N engages a gear-wheel, P, upon the main shaft or axle O, as shown. 5

A pair of springs, Q, secured upon the frame A support a seat, It, for the operator, and a rear seat, S, upon which one or more passengers may be seated.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the drawings hereto annexed, the operation and advantages of my invention will be readily understood.

Thedeviceissimple, inexpensive, convenient, and easily manipulated.

Having thus described my invention, I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States As an improvement in velocipedes, the combination, with the V-shaped frame A, provided at its rear ends with boxes or bearings B for the main shaft or axle O, carrying the transporting-wheels D, and having its forward end bent C-shaped to form a spring-bearin g for the bearing of the front guide-wheels, of the boxing J, covering the gear-wheel mechanism for propelling the device, all combined and operating substantially as and for the purpose herein shown and specified.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I have hereto affixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

' WILLIAM H. HOUFE.

Witnesses:

WM. H. MUMAW, J os. B. WOODWARD. 

